Sep 22, 2026 · 2h 39m
The Knicks’ title window meets an unpredictable East
The Knicks (and a Crowded East) With Zach Lowe, Plus Anthony Jeselnik on Book Clubs, Roasts, and Stand-Up Comedy in 2026
The episode tests whether New York’s emerging contender can outlast a conference where health, contracts, depth, and aging stars could reorder the field.
- 1The Knicks’ championship window depends on sustaining star power and roster depth through the physical cost of deep playoff runs.
- 2Detroit’s Jalen Duren decision exposes the difficulty of paying premium money to centers outside the league’s elite tier.
- 3Anthony Jeselnik connects his new book club to broader arguments about reading, comedy craft, and podcasting’s effect on stand-up.
Don't miss
Anthony Jeselnik explains how his book club aims to make reading communal and celebratory while connecting it to his evolving comedy career.
The brief
Zach Lowe and Bill Simmons revisit Lowe’s path from blogging to Grantland before asking whether the Knicks have enough star power and depth to sustain a championship window.
The East looks less like a hierarchy than a stress test: Detroit must price Jalen Duren, Philadelphia needs health, and Miami, Orlando, Boston, Toronto, and Indiana carry different risks.
The basketball conversation keeps returning to legacy and endurance, from the Knicks’ playoff comebacks to the physical toll of long postseason campaigns and the difficulty of comparing eras.
Anthony Jeselnik introduces his Ringer book club, built around accessible fiction, author conversations, and a more celebratory alternative to the internet’s instinct to attack literature.
Jeselnik also argues that podcasting can reward personality and clips over polished live material, while explaining why he remains committed to stand-up rather than acting.
Featuring
Anthony Jeselnik
Boston Celtics
It Follows
Sacramento KingsListen to the full episode and explore every guest, topic, and moment on PodLume.